The Lakers are bringing free agent forward Ed Davis on board, inking him to a 2-year contract worth $2 million. Davis, 25, put up 5.7 points and 4.1 rebounds last season in 15.2 minutes a game for the Memphis Grizzlies. Per the LA Times:

The 13th pick in the 2010 draft had a career high of 9.7 points when he played for the Grizzlies and the Toronto Raptors in 2012-13. He holds a player option for the second year of the contract.

The Memphis Grizzlies have reportedly agreed to a four-year, $14 million contract extension with forward Quincy Pondexter. Per the Commercial Appeal and CSNNW: “Griz expected to sign Pondexter to a 4-year extension tomorrow before deadline, per source. Ed Davis unlikely because sides are far apart … Memphis Grizzlies agreement with F Quincy Pondexter is a four-year, $14 million extension, according to source.”

The NBA slapped Memphis Grizzlies forward Ed Davis with a $15K fine, after he smacked Donatas Motiejunas across the head during an Oct. 25 exhibition game. Davis was ejected after being given a flagrant 2 foul.

The blockbuster acquisition of Rudy Gay likely isn’t the only move the Toronto Raptors will make prior to the trade deadline. GM Bryan Colangelo basically admitted that he’s looking to move Andrea Bargnani (who isn’t exactly opposed to a change of scenery.) Per the Toronto Sun: “Bargnani followed up the best season of his career — albeit an injury-plagued one — with a disastrous stretch this year, before getting hurt again. It has been obvious for some time that it is time for Bargnani to move on, for his sake and for the Raptors, and Colangelo indicated a move could happen soon, though it is not a certainty. ‘Andrea is a player that has definitely garnered interest. Unfortunately when he gets hurt that takes him off the market,’ Colangelo explained after breaking down the Gay trade to reporters. ‘That’s not to say we’re going to trade Andrea … He’s a unique talent, but sometimes a change of address is not bad. I’m not saying he’s asked for a trade, but he would certainly not fight or resist a situation if it was the right situation.’ Bargnani has two years left on his contract, but is a tremendous offensive weapon, when in top form, a player opposing coaches gameplan around. He has many faults, and this corner has addressed them many times, but someone will come calling for him. But likely only if he returns to the lineup soon, and well in advance of the February 21st deadline. ‘Right now there’s no assurances we trade Andrea. Right now, the goal and the focus is to get him back healthy on the court and let him contribute to this team and we’ll see where things go,’ Colangelo said.”

Yesterday, all the hoopla surrounding the Super Bowl coupled with a weak two-game schedule made the NBA as irrelevant as it’ll ever be this season. But between Grizz-Celtics and Heat-Raptors, we were still treated to a few nice plays. From LeBron James‘ 30 point outing to Ray Allen‘s smooth jumper, roll through the gallery above for Sunday’s best 10 plays.

After countless hours browsing YouTube, watching highlights, and trying to develop a halfway-decent ranking system of the best dunks, blocks, steals, and assists from the rookie class, we’ve finally arrived at our goal: the Top 50 Plays of the Year.

I’ll let the moving pictures do the talking, but I do want to make one disclaimer: I did everything I could to make sure Blake Griffin didn’t own all the highlights, especially the top-10. It was extremely difficult, but in order to give less prominent names exposure and showcase the full arsenal of the rookie class, it was completely necessary. In the end, Griffin got his fare share of highlights (still owns the majority, obviously), but so did the rest of young guns. If you have any thoughts/agreements/disagreements, feel free to stop by the comment section. History will be rewritten in the upcoming weeks, but for one last time, let’s see what’s good with the rookie class.

In life, and especially in basketball, I have trouble capturing the moment; I typically don’t absorb and understand what’s occurring until the moment is complete. The tendency was once again in effect this year, but for the first time I think it worked to my advantage.

I didn’t view the rookies as rookies; Instead, every first year pro was just a professional basketball player, regardless of age or experience. I’m not naive though. Like any fan, I gave the rookies the benefit of the doubt, understanding they have room to grow and time to flourish, like an eighth grader playing varsity. Instead of forming an impulsive perspective and drawing outrageous conclusions based off single-game (or single-week) performances, I took a years worth of work into account to analyze the rookie class.

It goes without saying that one season isn’t enough to place labels–bust, superstar, etc. Chauncey Billups came into the League in ‘97-98, but didn’t make an impact until 2002. The same applies for numerous others—Chris Mullin, Gerald Wallace, Corey Maggette, Ben Wallace to name a few. With the season winding down, let’s have some fun and redraft the Class of 2010.

Wall has been the only ray of life for the 18-56 Wizards. He was the consensus No. 1 pick in June, and still holds the throne on the first of April. The Carolina native has the make of a franchise point guard—superb athleticism, ball handling, court awareness, and most importantly leadership. Even without a consistent jumpshot, Wall is a match-up problem on most nights. His ability to fill the stat sheet is reminiscent of a young Jason Kidd.

Monroe has arguably been the best Eastern Conference rookie since January. After logging 15-20 minutes a game earlier in the season, he’s made his way into the Pistons starting lineup. His numbers have increased every month—with 10 double-doubles in his last 17 games, his development is coming along smoothly. Learning from Elton Brand and playing alongside Andre Iguodala and pass-first point guard Jrue Holiday would make Monroe a good fit in Philadelphia. DeMarcus Cousins could also be considered for this spot, but I see Monroe’s versatility as a better fit for the 76ers.

This one is simple: Favors was a trade chip even before he got drafted, and he was finally shipped to Utah at the deadline. I am confident DeMarcus Cousins will have a more successful career than Favors, but the Nets already have a center in Brook Lopez. Plus, many teams would be hesitant to trade for Cousins.

If there’s one player to contest Wall as the Draft’s best overall player, it’s Cousins. Cousins is a 6-11, 270 pound immovable object with the shooting touch of a guard. He’s posted a double-double in 14 of his last 28 games, and has scored in double figures in all but one game in March.

If the Wolves drafted Cousins, they could’ve put Mike Beasley at 3, allowing Kevin Love to play his natural 4, and inserting Cousins at the 5. With the double-teams Cousins is already demanding, Love would probably have five 30-30 games this year. It’s sad that the last positive memories of the Target Center lie within the Kevin Garnett days.

George is a 6-8 combo guard who’s as raw as sushi. He’s shown flashes of brilliance on both ends of the floor, with a crafty offensive arsenal and the length to contest any shot on defense, even if he lays off his man. Despite shooting only 27 percent from deep, George has trampoline hops and a developing jumpshot. For George to get minutes under the strict tutelage of Jim O’Brien is an indication of some sort. Not saying he’s an All-Star, but George can be a starter in this league for years to come. With Cousins off the board, if Sacramento took the Fresno State swingman they’d have a solid core of Tyreke Evans/Marcus Thornton/George, plus a top-8 pick in this years draft.

Davis has been overlooked for most of the season despite being a lottery pick. His skinny frame is deceptive because he can bang down low, scoring efficiently (66 percent in January, 64 percent in February, 53 percent in March) and collect rebounds. He would fit in with Golden States run-n-gun offense, garnering lots of transition buckets. His raw ability is too much to pass up on here.

Both Greg Monroe and Paul George are off the board here, but Turner is still a good fit in Detroit. He needs to improve in several categories, but Turner plays at his pace and is comfortable within himself, leading to lots of playmaking opportunities. With some improved shot selection and some work behind the arc, Tuner will be a solid pro. The locker room unrest in Detroit would’ve also allowed Turner to play significant minutes.

Fields’ remarkable basketball IQ and veteran poise lifts him from the dumps of the second round to the lottery. Al-Farouq Aminu has made decent contributions, but Fields’ play is way ahead of his experience—he has unpredictable upside, and at this point is a rotation player at the worst. Fields shoots, defends, and rebounds better than Aminu, and would help the Clips immediately.

Johnson has been erratic at times this season, but so has every other player on this list. Wes could fill in at small forward for Utah, as Andrei Kirilenko’s contract expires at seasons end. Johnson’s put together a few notable performances, but I think he’d do even better in the Jazz’ balanced, structured system. If he can learn to attack the rim with a vengeance and polish his three-point shooting, Johnson will be a force in the league.

Sanders hasn’t played too often this season, but his game fascinates me. It’s rare to find a 6-11 forward who can defend positions two through five. On offense, Sanders has a smooth face-up and mid-range game. For an Indiana team that lacks front-court athleticism, Sanders a risky pick, but one that could pay dividends.

It’s easy to be fooled by Patterson’s petty numbers, but his game is meant for game film, not the box score. Patterson can guard without fouling, something the Kings hope DeMarcus Cousins will learn. He has a limited but effective offensive game, but his impact would be especially felt on the defensive end. Patterson could play behind Serge Ibaka or Kendrick Perkins, anchoring the second unit similar to Omer Asik in Chicago.

Since being traded from Atlanta to Washington, Crawford has made the most of his opportunities, surprising everyone in the basketball world with his scoring ability. His latest feat—a smooth 39 on the Miami Heat this past Wednesday. Crawford would be an offensive threat off the bench for Memphis, making OJ Mayo even more expendable. The kid from Xavier can create his shot with ease, in a Jamal Crawford-Jason Terry kind of way. He’s also showed more promise than both Xavier Henry and Greivis Vasquez, Memphis’ two draft picks.

All-Star weekend is a time for fun and excitement; a chance to unwind, regroup, and enjoy the show. Over the next few days, we’ll watch the world’s greatest athletes perform the inconceivable.

But the All-Star break is, after all, a break. And with any break comes reflection. So let’s reflect.

At this point, we can point out which rookies fit in the NBA mold and which ones are still a work in progress. We all have favorites, whether it’s Gordon Hayward’s white-boy baby-face style of play, Gary Neal’s under the radar ratchet, or Blake Griffin’s abnormal trampoline hops.

Thus far, with the exception of Oklahoma City’sCole Aldrich, we’ve seen solid contributions and flashes of brilliance from every lottery pick. We’ve also witnessed the emergence of the unknown, like Neal and Landry Fields.

Every incoming draft class remind us to expect the unexpected, to prepare for the unknown. And that’s why I love rookies. Everyone has a chance. Perhaps the mantra of the legendary iS8 AAU basketball tournament says it best: Bring your game, not your name.

In L.A.’s loss to Cleveland last Friday, we were reminded why the NBA is so great.

Blake Griffin couldn’t careless Antawn Jamison has been in the league for 70 years, and Jamison wasn’t ready to accept any of Griffin’s rookie nonsense.

The outcome: a fierce, possession-to-possesion battle, resulting in a combined 67 points and 19 rebounds.

Jamison (35, 9) had the last laugh, hitting a 3-pointer with 22 seconds left in OT for the Cavs. And for the first time all year, we saw Griffin pissed off. When asked about JJ Hickson’s borderline goaltend in the final seconds of regulation, the naturally calm Griffin went off.

“That was unbelievable,” Griffin said. “That was unbelievable. Throughout the whole game, it was just unbelievable. That was the worst home-court advantage I’ve ever seen. There’s such a thing as home-court advantage, but that was unbelievable.”

Props to Jamison for showing up. He made Griffin defend inside-out, and exposed him in the process. But by the same token, Griffin abused Jamison. I love it.

Two nights later, Blake went up against fellow rookie Ed Davis, another solid battle. Griffin put in work, posting 21 points and 15 rebounds, but so did Davis. The former Tar-Heel put up 13 points and 14 rebounds on 6-8 shooting.

In his final game of the week, Griffin matched up with Kevin Love, and it was just another day in the neighborhood. Love got his 18 and 18, while Griffin got his 29 and 8.

To be honest, I haven’t watched enough Timberwolves games this year. Hence, I still don’t get how Love is so consistent on the glass. Does he have hops? Is he the best ever at boxing-out? I have to get on my shit, because what Love is doing is insane. He’s a below average athlete but the best the rebounder in the world. Just doesn’t make sense.

Back to Blake Griffin. According to Elias Sports Bureau, Griffin’s the second rookie in the last 40 years to average at least 22.8 points and 12.6 rebounds heading into the All-Star break. The other was Shaquille O’Neal of the 1992-93 Orlando Magic (24 and 14.3).

There’s been a huge fallout from Cousins’ suspension this week, with tons of emerging speculation and concern.

One headline that caught my eye: “Is Cousins worth it?”

Um.. Yeah.

I’ve been repping Cousins’ game, and quite frankly his mindset, all year.

In no way do I condone locker-room beefs (aside from the rumored Kobe-Shaq beef of the 2000’s that resulted in three consecutive titles), but Cousins is exactly what the Kings need, both in his basketball arsenal and mindset.

His arsenal: A 6-11, 270 pound frame. A combination so rare that I can’t think of another player in the league other than Shaq with that foundation.

Throw in a 15-20 foot face-up game that’s already taking form, remarkable ball control and touch for a guy his size, and Cousins has all the physical tools you could dream of.

His mindset: You’re not taking my lunch, my money, or my chain. But you can try.

DeMarcus plays with fire and emotion, both which need to be channeled better, but his take-no-prisoners attitude is atypical for a rookie. We expected the technical fouls and the occasional let-me-sulk-and-make-some-bad-decisions, so I just ask to give him some time.

However, there’s one hindrance to his development, and it lies in the rocker room, but it’s of Cousins’ control. The problem is he has no guidance.

The Kings are among the youngest teams in the NBA, and have Jason Thompson and Sam Dalembert as mentors, and it seems coach Paul Westphal has more disconnect than chemistry with Cousins.

You could be the best driver in the world, but if you get thrown into a two-way highway your first time behind the wheel, you’re screwed. What about acquiring a Marcus Camby, or getting a veteran coach on your bench to guide DeMarcus, a la Sam Cassell working with John Wall. If Cousins doesn’t have a helping hand, some feel his potential will be cut short, similar to OJ Mayo or Terrence Williams.

On the court this week, Cousins continued to be a force down low.

He had 14 points and 12 rebounds in Saturday’s loss to Oklahoma City, then was suspended for one game, then returned to the tune of 21 points and 13 rebounds in only 29 minutes. He finished his week with 16 points and 12 rebounds at Dallas. These numbers indicate promise, not problems.

Notes:

-Spurs rookie Gary Neal had a strong week, averaging 12.7 points in three games. Neal got the best of John Wall Saturday, posting 16 points, four assists, and four rebounds. Wall had eight points and seven assists.

-Cavs rookie Christian Eyenga is having a strong month, averaging close to nine points per game in February, 5th among rookies.

-Raptors rookie Ed Davis was a monster on the glass this week, averaging 13.3 rebounds in three games, including a 13 point, 14 rebound performance against Blake Griffin on Sunday.

-Pacers rookie Paul George put together a solid week, in particular on the defense end against Miami. In Tuesday’s game, George put forth a concentrated effort on containing Dwayne Wade.

Wade had 41 points, but if you watched the game, you saw George doing all he could. He tried to use his length and instincts to cut off driving lanes and contest shots, and he didn’t back down when Wade got physical. George ultimately got shredded, but you have to respect the effort. He also finished with 14 points and five rebounds.

That’s it for now. Check back for the Rookie-Sophomore game preview, which should be dropping soon. Enjoy All-Star weekend, it should be great. One love.

Welcome to the Rookie Report, a weekly analysis of the NBA’s Young Gunz.

On an individual scale, the success of this rookie rookie class has been a spectrum. We have a monster rookie, a ‘what could be’ rookie, a pleasant surprise, and some dissapointments; but the majority of first-year pros have been solid, but unreliable.

Blake Griffin (the monster) has made the Clippers an anomaly: a 16-25 team that’s ‘must watch’ TV. John Wall has shown flashes of greatness, leaving us to ponder ‘what could be,’ and we’ve been pleasantly surprised by the play of Landry Fields.

Surprising, to some, are the numerous lottery picks that have been MIA (Gordon Hayward, Pat Patterson, Xavier Henry, etc). If you have serious doubt or are in panic mode about a rookie, let time take its course; if history repeats itself, everything will be good money.

The natural rookie progression is one of early struggle and late improvement. Sometimes rookies even improve exponentially during the last-third of their first NBA season. Take Marcus Thornton, for example. After an inconsistent start to his rookie campaign, from Feb. 1st onward (22 games) he recorded 16 games of 20 points or more, including outings of 28 (three times), 30, 36, and 37.

Exhibit B: Thornton’s former teammate, Darren Collison. From Feb. 1st onward, the CP3 fill-in scored in double-figures in all but two games the rest of the season, and posted double-doubles in 9 of the 22 games. He even had a 16 point, 20 assists showing.

The bad: Griffin’s streak of double-doubles ended last night at 27 games. The good: the Clippers keep winning.

Don’t be fooled. Despite his streak ending, Griffin poured in 29 points and eight rebounds against the Wolves. Even more impressive (at least to me), he helped keep rebounding machine Kevin Love to 0 first-half boards. Griffin continues to dominate, and the Clippers have quietly won 11 of 15.

Before we move forward, let’s rewind to last Friday, the first game of BG’s week (according to the ‘Rookie Report’ calender). Blake had 28 and 13 in a loss to the Warriors, then dropped 18 and 15 in a victory over the Lakers. For one night, and for many more once Kobe retires, L.A. witnessed the [B]lakeshow.

The next day, specifically MLK day, Griffin made 19 of 24 fields goals, en route to a career-high and NBA season-high 47 points. 19-24!! That’s 79.2 percent. Are you serious? According to Elias Sports Bureau, that was the highest field-goal percentage by a rookie who took at least 20 shots in an NBA game since Dec. 6, 1984, when Hakeem Olajuwon made 18 of 22 (81.8 percent) for the Rockets. Not bad company.

Griffin’s 47 points were also the second-most ever on MLK day. Gilbert Arenas dropped 51 on the Jazz in ’07. Blake now has a better career-high then Monta Ellis (46), DRose (39), and Dwight Howard (45), to name a few. Get ya buckets up fellas.

At the end of last season, I was convinced no rookie would match ‘Reke’s 20, 5, and 5 campaign, but obviously I was mistaken. Griffin has been so good so early that I frequently find myself desensitized to his highlights, which is terrible because he’s only 41 games into his career. His violation of the league should be a felony. Sorry LeBron, I’ve found someone new to witness.

John Wall

Season: 15.3 ppg, 9.3 apg, 1.8 spg

Week 12: 12.75 ppg, 11.75 apg, 1.8 spg

Just because Griffin is the main course on this years rookie menu, we shouldn’t ignore the delicious appetizer that Sir Johnathan Wall has given us.

Wall is averaging 13.8 points and 11 assists in January, and his steady play is showing in the win column. The Wizards are still winless on the road this season, but are a decent (by Washington standards) 4-5 during the first month of ’11.

The Wiz, led by Wall, got their first win against a team with a winning record when they defeated the Jazz on Monday. Wall had 19 points and tied a career-high with 15 assists, but more importantly got a win against Deron Williams, arguably the best point guard in the league.

Consistency, both individually and in the win column, will be the ultimate factor to judge John Wall. Double-figure points in 10 of the last 12 and double-figure assists in 7 of the last 12 is a good start.

DeMarcus Cousins

Season: 13 ppg, 7.7 rpg

Week 12: 13.75 ppg, 7.5 rpg

Cousins had a strong week in my book. In only 23 minutes vs. the Knicks, he posted 16 points and 10 rebounds (six offensive), albeit on 7-20 shooting. He then went toe-to-toe with fellow lottery pick Greg Monroe in a four-point loss at Detroit. Cousins has shown glimpses of dominance, but he’s been inconsistent as well. He shot an abysmal 2-11 in last night’s loss to Portland. If you look past the tolerable rookie struggles, Cousins has been one of the few bright spots on the 9-31 Sacramento Kings.

Earning a shade under half-a-million dollars this season, Harris is heavily impressing in Cleveland. The undrafted, 6-5 shooting guard from Michigan posted 16 points and 10 rebounds on Jan. 7th vs. Golden State, and followed up two nights later to the tune of 27 points and eight rebounds. Harris, along with Spurs rookie Gary Neal, may claim the title for the best undrafted rookies this year.

Notes:

-Late shout-out to two Boston rookie big-men. Luke Harangody pulled down a team-high 11 rebounds on Jan. 7th and Semih Erden led Boston with 9 rebounds a few nights later. If the inuries on the Celtics’ frontline persist, one of these two could see an increased role.

-Ed Davis is averaging 10.3 rebounds over his past three games. Davis is progressing smoothy after starting the year on the DL. You think Toronto is regretting Amir Johnson’s lofty contract yet?

-Starting in place of the injured Ben Wallace, Greg Monroe has scored in double-figures in eight straight games, a stretch that includes four double-doubles. Monroe is slowly silencing his critics, and making a strong case for Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month.

-Paul George had a career-high 16 points last Wednesday during Indiana’s win vs. Dallas. George is averaging nearly 14 minutes per game in January. Many fans (myself included) are still waiting for fellow Pacer Lance Stephenson to grace the hardwood. But don’t panic ‘Born Ready’ fans, here’s some promising news: ‘Coach Jim O’Brien said guard Lance Stephenson has developed enough in the first half of the season that he would be confident if he needed to play this season. The rookie from Cincinnati has yet to play in a regular season game, but O’Brien said he expected Stephenson to be a “very, very” big part of the team’s future.’

Welcome to the Rookie Report, a weekly judgment and analysis of the NBA’s Young Gunz.

This time last week, I was as hyped as I’d been in a long, long time to watch NBA basketball. The slate of games on Christmas was insane. Ray Felton, Amar’e and supporting cast conquered DRose, Boozer, and supporting cast for the second time this year, proving the Knicks could be a legitimate 5 seed in the East. Orlando made a statement by snapping Boston’s 14-game winning streak. The absence of Rajon Rondo didn’t hold much weight for me because this was a statement made by the Magic to the Magic. They can do it.

If Orlando acquires a decent big-man (i.e. Boris Diaw, Troy Murphy, Joel Przybilla), they will compete with anyone in May. They have a lot to improve on, given Dwight Howard and Gilbert Arenas combined for 11 points on 3-13 shooting Christmas day. But once they find their groove, Orlando will make a run at a third consecutive Eastern Conference finals appearance. Two nights prior to beating Boston, the Magic smacked San Antonio, ending the Spurs’ double-digit winning streak as well. Respect is earned in May and June, but we should still give props to Otis Smith for playing the odds and going all-in.

The Heat abused the Lakers. I’m not giving my opinion because there’s no point. Media are in no position to critique Kobe Bryant in December. When natural order gets interrupted and disturbed, it’s human nature to freak out. But we tend to forget that Kobe has more rings than LeBron, DWade, Carmelo, Amar’e, Dirk, CP3, KG, Paul Pierce, Ray Allen, and Dwight Howard… combined. I’m not calling another Lakers title, but if Bryant does go down this year, it won’t be in a 16-point defeat, you can bet that.

The last two games on Christmas day reinforced what we already knew: 85% of the teams in the NBA are limited to the point that they can’t compete with the top-tier teams. I also realized Dwight Howard should strongly consider signing with Oklahoma City in 2012. If things don’t work out in Orlando, that could be his best chance at winning a ring.

Okay, now that I just splurged out my brain, let’s get back on point.

Rookies. Dissecting the ROY race has no substance; Blake Griffin is in 1st, 2nd, and 3rd in my book. But many rooks are putting in work, marinating in their respective systems, and appear (at the moment) to have bright futures.

BG continued his monster streak of double-doubles, earning his 20th straight in last night’s loss to Utah. He now holds the Clippers’ rookie record and the longest streak by any NBA rookie in the last 40 years. Griffin now has 26 double-doubles on the season (in 33 games). Furthermore, the only two players in the past 10 years to have a longer streak are Kevin Garnett (37) and David Lee (24). Blake is currently second in the league in double-doubles, two behind Kevin Love’s 28.

I’m confused. Isn’t he supposed to be a rookie? You know, inconsistent play, mistakes, off-nights, any type of typical struggles? Apparently not.

I know all of you realize what’s going on, but any notion of him being overrated is absurd. He’s the truth. He’s realness. A ruthless, savage-like franchise big-man who the Clippers should and will build around. For all the naysayers, consider this: As Chris Broussard notes, on any given night, LA puts out a starting lineup without anyone over the age of 22. Patience and practice will help mold this team towards it’s potential. We’ve seen slight improvement already—props to the Clips for winning five of their past seven games.

After missing five games, Wall had a rusty return in San Antonio. He shot 2-9 with four turnovers in only 19 minutes, but he got back into his rhythm the next night in Houston, posting 13 points, 6 assists, and 5 rebounds. In last night’s win against Indiana, he was three rebounds shy of a triple-double. Wall’s flirted with both peaks and valleys this year, but he’s learning on the fly. With Gilbert Arenas gone, it’s time for Wall to step up as a leader and help construct some wins for the Wizards.

But for the sake of being consistent, here are some stats: Fields leads all shooting guards in field-goal percentage (52%) and rebounds (7.6).

His impact lies within the intangibles, not statistical production. Fields sets solid screens, makes well-timed cuts, and sacrifices his body for the much-needed offensive foul, rebound, or steal. In my opinion, Landry Fields has been more instrumental in his team’s success than any other rookie. The Knicks are a team that plays 75% by street rules and 25% by fundamentals and textbook play. It’s cool with me, in fact I love it. But when Wilson Chandler, Tony Douglas, or even Amar’e Stoudemire get carried away, Fields is the glue that keeps the cracked frame together.

Notes:

-Wesley Johnson had a career-high 24 points in the T-Wolves’ win over the Hornets on Monday. Johnson has been consistent all year, and is averaging approximately 13 points per contest over his last four games. Coming into the league, his jump-shot was a concern, but we should note he’s tied with Gary Neal for the rookie lead with 46 3-pointers made.

-DeMarcus Cousins went on a hot streak earlier this month, when he averaged 17 points and 16 rebounds. Cousins cooled down over his next three games, but made a statement last night. He contributed 21 points, 16 rebounds, and 2 steals in last night’s win vs. Memphis.

-Evan Turner had a career-high 23 points last night on an extremely efficient 9-12 shooting. Statement game or was it the Suns’ non-existent defense?

-Ed Davis had a career-high 17 points and 12 rebounds in Toronto’s surprising road victory in Dallas on Tuesday.

-Gordon Hayward also had a career-high 17 points (5-8 from deep) and 6 rebounds in last night’s win vs. LA.

Welcome to the Rookie Report, a weekly judgment and analysis of the NBA’s Young Gunz.

It’s mid-December, a very busy time in the sports world. The first wave of separation is occuring in the NBA, when the good teams move forward while the struggling ones slowly drown. It’s week 15 in the NFL, where the intense playoff push is going hard. College Basketball is in the midst of the non-conference schedule, with an abundance of future NBA talent on display.

Trending Topics: The Heat have won 10 straight!… The Knicks are back!… The ’10-11 Patriots are in ’07-08 form… Are Derrick Rose and Russell Westbrook among the top-four pg’s in the league right now?… Is Brett Favre still playing? Nope, he retired… Oh wait, he’s back, with only one arm, cool!… Will Peyton Manning miss the playoffs for the first time since 2001? Who is Keith Benson?… Is Donald Sterling still the owner of the Clippers? Of course he is, damn…

Not-so Trending Topics: John Wall leads the NBA in steals!… DeMarcus Cousins improving!… Landry Fields averages more rebounds than any other guard in the league!… Blake Griffin isn’t human!

Since a Nov. 13th loss to the Bulls, an ailing Wall has managed to play in only seven of the Wizards’ last 15 games. Wall suffered a sprained left ankle while defending Derrick Rose, an injury that began the recurring theme of DNP for Wall. He battled through the sprained ankle only to come down with right knee tendinitis a few days later. As Michael Lee of the Washington Post notes, Wall is a soldier—he played through a broken left thumb during his junior year of high school.

The No. 1 overall pick played in half of the Wizards’ game this week, a total of one contest. He posted 8, 6, and 5 in a loss to the Knicks. When healthy, Wall’s been one of the best rookies in the league. He’s scored in double-figures in 14 of his last 15 games, leads the NBA in steals per game, and ranks 5th in assists per game. The timetable for his return is uncertain, keeping the D.C. area on edge. The Wizards have lost nine of their last 10, and host the Miami Heat and Chicago Bulls this week. Oh Boy.

The Clippers continue to rack L’s, but individually Griffin isn’t losing anything. [If healthy] He’ll win ROY honors, the respect of the league, and heck, maybe even help the Clips win a few more games. As I always note, Griffin spends his time in the cafeteria, eating meal after meal. This weeks menu featured Zach Randolph with a side of Marc Gasol, Dwight Howard, and Elton Brand.

Griffin was shy at first, ordering from the Weight Watchers menu vs. Memphis, posting 19 points, 11 rebounds, and 5 assists. Then, like the Griffin we’d expect, he took full advantage of the buffet. In his last two games, Orlando and Philly, he’s combined for 47 points, 34 rebounds, and 10 assists. His offensive output is the obvious. But Griffin’s picked up his D too, averaging one block and one steal per game in December. At this point, it’s hard to imagine Griffin being left off the all-star team.

It’s scary that Griffin’s producing 20 and 12 with an arsenal full of raw skill, and raw skill only. What will he be doing next year? 25 and 15? For the first time in a long time, the Clippers made the right decision with this draft pick.

You’d be hard pressed to find a team playing worse than the Sacramento Kings right now. A few teams are playing just as bad, but none worse. After two blow-out losses vs. Miami and Houston, the Kings seemed very uncomfortable in last night’s game vs. New Orleans. Like a newly licensed driver speeding in a blizzard, Paul Westphal’s team inevitably spun out of control and totaled the car. Sacramento was up 23 in the third quarter, but of course, they found a way to lose the game.

Somewhere in this mosaic of disappointment and confusion lies DeMarcus Cousins, a bright spot on the young Sacramento team. Cousins is currently in the best stretch of his career, averaging 13 points and 7 rebounds over his last six games. He had 17 and 7 vs. the Rockets, and contributed 13 and 7 in the car wreck. Still 20 years of age, Cousins has shown promise of filling his heavy expectations.

The Raptors’ rook will not be able to resume basketball-related activities for about six weeks, reports the Toronto Sun: “The Ed Davis era is off to a not-so stellar start. The Raptors’ prized rookie underwent arthroscopic surgery Monday to fix a meniscus tear to his right knee Davis tweaked his knee while playing in a pickup game not sanctioned by the team last Wednesday. The need for surgery is a setback for Davis and the Raptors, since training camp is set to commence in less than a week with the first pre-season game tipping on Oct. 6 in Vancouver. Not only will Davis miss the chance to get used to the NBA game and his new teammates in the pre-season, he will also be well behind in the cardio department when he is ready to return to action early in the season.”

Doug Smith reports: “It’s all fun and games until someone hurts a knee. Raptors rookie forward Ed Davis sustained a “meniscal” injury to his right knee during a pickup game Wednesday night and the treatment options are still being determined. Davis was playing informally in Mississauga on Wednesday — a gathering started by the team’s younger players using social media outlets — when he landed the wrong way after a rebound and hurt himself. … The team did not disclose details of any treatment for Davis, which could run from rest to arthroscopic surgery. Toronto begins training camp at the Air Canada Centre on Sept. 28. While there was no indication the injury had anything to do with people not involved with professional basketball, the game was taking place away from the team’s practice facility — and training and medical staff. Generally, in the final two weeks before training camp, players use the team’s facilities to work out and scrimmage with teammates. Davis, a 6-foot-10, 215-pound 21-year-old, was taken 13th overall by the Raptors in June’s NBA draft.”

In today’s Polladaday, we ask your opinion on the best big in the 2010 Draft. With eight of the 15 Green Room invites being big men (and only one PG, by the way), it’s safe you say options are diverse.

While many things have stayed pretty consistent in the city of Detroit for the past decade, others have taken a big hit. Coney Islands are still popular, Belle Isle is still the hotspot, Detroit Tigers hats are still essential, and despite his untimely demise, rapper Blade Icewood still manages to get the crowds hype in the clubs.

The Detroit Pistons, that’s another story…

“I think that we’ve drifted from who we were. I think that we didn’t play with the same grit and toughness that we’ve played with over the past 10 years,” Pistons’ President of Basketball Operations Joe Dumars said in a recent press conference. “That’s the whole focus right now for us is to get back to the grit and toughness that’s identified us for the past decade!”

Honestly, I don’t feel as though one draft pick will help them regain their old-school aura but I do feel one player can potentially push them in the right direction. After spending a hefty amount in the free agent market last season on Ben Gordon and Charlie Villanueva, the franchise is aware that this year’s draft pick will be very important. Gordon, was one of the top free agents of the summer when he signed a $55 million, five-year contract in leaving the Bulls and Villanueva inked a $35 million, five-year deal as he bid farewell to the Bucks. But there’s only one problem…the Pistons have been as lucky as Tiger Woods (as of late) in selecting the cream of the crop that June has to offer in this decade.

Looking back on their recent picks it’s clear to see that the Pistons need help!

With the seventh pick in the 2010 SLAMonline Mock Draft the Detroit Pistons select…

Ed Davis from the University of North Carolina.

Lacking consistency in the frontcourt, the Pistons need a “true” big man. The sexy picks would have been DeMarcus Cousins or Derrick Favors but they have to settle for what they can get. Currently, the franchise is led by Ben Wallace, Kwame Brown, Austin Daye, Jason Maxiell and Charlie Villanueva (if he counts). Swingmen and guards dominate their roster.

Davis has been described by ESPN’s Chad Ford as a player who has “a nose for the ball and attacks the offensive glass. But he’s also not the most polished player in the Draft.” Despite his weaknesses, he may be the perfect choice for the Pistons. At 6-11, 225 pounds, Davis may be able to add a bit of intimidation towards the opposition with his huge frame. Although his averages of 12.9 points 9.2 rebounds and 2.7 blocks per game weren’t the most impressive, he has tremendous room for growth. Under the tutelage of the Pistons, the sophomore from Richmond, VA could potentially bring back the “Bad” for the boys in the Motor City.

To be honest, some college underclassmen who declared for the NBA Draft are Europe-level talents… but definitely not these players: North Carolina sophomore Ed Davis, Baylor junior Ekpe Udoh, New Mexico junior Darington Hobson, and Memphis sophomore Elliot Williams.